Combined typewriting and computing machine



A. El OSWALD.

COMBINED TYPEWRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm ocr. ll. I920.

1 338,7 1 8. Patented Dec. 12, 1922 I lj/ J9 if lnvemorfi- 1 6 5 2 56' I(W 6- a i :0 wjm fa/G y f I Milk/w Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFESE.

ALFRED E. OSWALD, OF BOGOTA, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERVJOOD COM-PUTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COMBINED TYPPRVRITING AND COMPUTING MACHINE,

Applicationfilcd October 11, 1920. Serial No. 416,248.

To all whom it may concern: r

' Becit; known thatil, ALFRED E. OSW ALD a citizenofthe. United States,residing in Bogota, in the county of Bergen and State of ,New Jersey,have inventedcertain new and useful Lmproyernents in CombinedTypewriting -gand rcomputing -Machines, ,.of which the following is aspecification.

This invention-relates to the registers or totalizers-of computingmachines, especially those ofthe type known as .the Underwood standardbookkeeping machine, which both typewritesiand computes; I i v Theregisters; are provided v with electric lamps Ito, illuminate the,numberwheels and provision is'made whereby when anyregister is out ofuse, its lamp is automatically extinguished, thereby indicating to theoperator Whether or.not -a ny register stands at zero.Theregister-lamps. for the .several registers mayibeioonnected. in alighting circu it in series relation; .,,and. means are I provided,whereby, should the. lamp 4 for, any register fail,.the: lamp ,for,anyother register may be continued in use. LkCCOICliDg ,to,-one form ofthe present irivention the registerlamps may -beoonnectcd in series in aiightinggcircuit, ands suitable resistance 18 con- ,nectedrin multiplearound each register-lamp,

thereby providingva-shunt for theilighting circuit, around eachregister-lamp that fails and x"enabling any other register-lamp theseries tobe continuedin use. In this form of thepresent invention, each.register-lamp may becontrolled by means of ashort-circuitcontrolleddiyhthc -number-wheels ofthe correspondingregister, and in '01d81',tO prevent a destructi-ve rushof currentthrough the short circuit. which otherwise in this arrangement would heestablished when all of the :registers stood at the zero. indication, asuitable main resistance, which may be. in the form of a deskilamp, maybe included in series in the lighting circuit. This series ar rangementof lhc 'egister-lamps just referred to is particularly adapted forconnection to the supply mains of a usual or suitable electrical supplysystem. supplying either direct or alternating current.

According to another form of the present invention which may beconnected with any suitable supply of electrical energy, but which isparticularly adapted to heoperatod on a battery circuit, theregister-lamps are connected in the lighting circuit in multiple,

long so that, should a register-lamp fail, the lamps for theremainingregisters may be continued in use. With a battery circuit it isparticularly desirable to economize clcctricity in order to conserve thebattery, and

therefore the arrangement is such that the main circuit from the batteryis normally open. Provision is made of a manually-op erablecircuit-controller or switch by means of which the normally open circuitmay be closed momentarily or for a short period enough to observe thecondition of the regrsters,and preferably this main circuit controllerincludes an autoniatically-returning contact-member. and mayconveniently be in the form of an ordinary push-button for closing thecircuit when pressed upon from-supply mains, similarly to the seriesarrangement, .1

; As another feature of the present inven' tion, a non-reflectingorlight-ahsorbing device is )rovided to fill the usual spaces hetwecn te peripheries of the coaxiallyar-' ranged numberswhccls. at the sidefrom which these number-wheels are viewed.

thereby to-accentuate the visibility of the numerals on theniuubcr-whcels. particularly when illuminated by the register-light.

This light-absorbing device may be in the form of curved fingers of dark,color projecting from and formed in one piece with a supporting plateconveniently secured to a frame partof the machine.

Otherfeatures and udrauh-lgcs will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanyin; drawings.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the front part. at the right sideand with parts omitted, of an Underwood standard bookkeeping machineembodying the present invention. and showing some of the number wheelsas turned away from the zero position. so that. according to the presentinvention, the register-light would be lit to give this indication aswell as to illuminate the number-wheels.

Figure 3 is a partial vertical section on a plane indicated by the line22 of Figure 1 as viewed from the right. but with the parts of thedevice in the position corresponding to the zero position of all of thenumberwheels in the register and with the registerlight extinguished, toapprise the-operator of the fact that the register is clear.

i igure 3 is a perspectiveview from the front and right. ofsubstantially What is shown in Figure 1. withthe addition. indiagrannotanother register and the electrical circuit for both registers, showingthe register-lamps sis-arranged in series relationin a lighting circuit.

Figure 4 is a perspective view, with parts omitted, illustrating moreparticularly in detached relation, the light-absorhing'device apgearing'in Figures 1,2and3'.

' igure fi'shows diagrammatically a'modifid form df the inventioitinwhich the register-lamps may beincluded in" the lighting circuitin=multi ile relation.

In the Underwood standardbooltkeeping machine, one orseveraltotalizersor registers areemployed, and in the machine illnstratedf in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. of the accompanying drawings, 'twototaliiers or registers A and Bare em loyed, the'register k beingillustrated suflicieiitly for the purposes'o'f the present invention;while the register B, which'may be asubs'tantizildurili cate of theregister Afiis shown diagrammaticall' at the'leftin Figurejfa'. Eachregister,'re erence now beinghad ni'or e 'particularly to the registerkyincl 'utlesa plurality ofcoaxially-anangdnumber-wheels 1' journaled ona shaft 2 and rotated by means of gears 3 engaged by rackhars 4. eachnumber-wheel 1 beingp'rovided with detentteeth 5 yieldingly engaged by aspringpressed detent 6 pressed to .the engaging position by aretractilespring 7. all of the detents 6 being shown as'pivoted'nn arod-8.

The machine has the usual frame 9 and casing 10, the casing 10 havingtherein for eacllre "ster a glass-covered sight-opening or win ow 11 inposition .for' reading the indication given by the ,line of numeralsvisible therethrough on the llHIIlliQPWliQlh' l. Tn carrying out thepresent imfentinn. register-lights 12 and '12". each of 'which may be aminiature incandescent: larnp. are

provided for illuminating the numberwheels 1 and 1" of the respectiveregisters and B. These register-lamps 12 and 12" may he locatedviithiii'the casing lnat the rear of the respective sightopenings aboveand in position to illuminate thenumerals on'tlie nunihenwheels 1 and 1of'theregisters A and B. as shown for the registr'A in Figures 1 and 2.

The register lamps 12 and 12" may be included in a lighting circuit inseries relation with each other and with a suitable resistance 13, whichmay be a desk-lamp, as indicated in Figure 3, by means of a mainconductor 14 connected to the desk-lamp 13, a second main conductor 15connected to the registerdmnp 12!, a conductor 16 connecting thedesk-lamp 13 to the register-lamp 12, and a 'conductor 17 between theregisterlamps 12 and 12". As an important feature of thepresent-invention, means are pro- -vided whereby should one of theregister- 'lanipslQ or 12* burnout, or otherwise fail,

the lighting-circuit maybe maintained intact through'theotherregister-lamp. so that the'latter may be continued in use forillumihating the number-wheels of the correspondin register. Toaccomplish this result, a suitable resistance 18 is connected inmultiple with the register-lamp 12 by means of a"conductor"1-9 connectedto the conductor 1'6, anda conductor- 20 connected tothe con ductor 17and, similarly, the'registerdamp 12fbr the registei Bhas a similarsuitable resistance 18 connected in multiple therewith by means ofa'conductOr '21 connected to theconductor 20 and a conductor 22connected with the main conductor 15. By

.means of this arrangement, it is obvious that should one of theregister-lamps -fail, a shunt path for lighting current will be providedaroundthat'lamp-through the corresponding resistance, so that the otherr'e""'s ter lamp maybe continued in use.

leans are provided, controlled by the number-Wheels of each (if theregisters, for

extinguishing the corresponding registerlamp when the numbenwheels allstand at zero, and: for lighting the register-lamp then any number-wheelof the register 'is moved away from its zeroposition: In

the particular form .of'the invention, Shown in Figures 1 to 4,inclusive. a short circuit is provided for each of the registerdamps.andth'is short circuit is arrangedto lie-closed for-extinguishing theregister-lamp at the zero indication of'the number-wheels. and to beopened for lighting the register-lamp when any numbenwheel of theregister stands away from zero. This lamp-coutrollingshort circuitfor'fhe register-lamp 12 at the register A includes conductors "23 aud24leadlngresflectivelv from the coir it'l 28. The lower ends of thecontact strips 25 and 27 are secured by a screw 29 to the usual frontbar of the frame 9 and are insulated therefrom and from the screw 29 bymeans of insulating washers 30, two of which appearin Figures 2 and 3.Normally or when all of the'number-wheels 1 of the register 'A stand atthe zero indication, the

short circuit for the register-lamp 12 will be closedby reaso'n'of'tbecontact spring 25 holdingthe'movable contact terminal 26 in contact withthe stationa contact terminal 27. 'Asimilar normally c osed shortcircuit isp'rovided .for theregisteplamp 12" of the register B through aconductor 31 shown as connecting the conductor 24 to a stationarycontact terminal 27", and a conductor 32 connecting the main conductor 1to a sprin ressed' 'movable contact terminal 26". hen both of'the shortcircuits around the register-lamps12 and 12" are in closed condition'the desk-lamp 13-wi1l-pr0vide su fficient resistance to prevent adestructive rush-'of'current through'the normally closed circuit thusprovided."

Referring now"'again" more particularly to theregistx Aiillustrated inFigures 1 and 2, and 'at jthe right of Figure 3. the meansoperateiithe'number-wheels' 1 for ya. lo contact'26 away from the stationaryterniinal 27, thereby to open the 'short ircinfi and flight theregister-lamp 12 when a-ny' orie-"of thetiumber wheels is moved 'awavfromaero'indicati'on. will now be defscribGdL- A memberuniversal to allof the detentsti is shown in the drawings as in the ifdrm'o'f a bailcomprising a transverse bail r'n'ein'bei 33 carried at its ends by apair of upstandingrook arms 34. pivoted at their lower' 'eiidson"tlie-'pivot' rod- 8 of the detents 6. Sprin'gs35 normally press thetransverse member 33backward until it is stopped by coming incontactwith one or more of the detents 6 at the back thereof. The upper end ofthe insulating strip 28. carried by'the contact spring 25,-is located inthe path'of the upper en of one of the bail arms345s'hown 'a the oneappearing-at the left in register A, so that when the universal bail,comprising the transverse member 33 and the arms 34. is at its forwardposition. appearing in Figures 1 and 3. the movable contact terminal 26will he separated from the stationary contact terminal 27 to close thelighting circuit through the register-lamp l2. and when this universalhail is at its rearward position. as shown in Figure 2. the movablecontact terminal 26 will he in contact with the stationary contactterminal 27 to close the short circuit and extinguish the iegiste-r-lampll.

At the proper place thereon. correspondinc to its zero position. twoadjacent teeth 5 of each number-wheel l are cut away or provided withrecesses 36, thereby to permit the detcnts (3 to he seated more deeplybe tween these t o adjacent tccth. My reason of this constru tion whenall of the numher-wheels 1 stand at zero position. all of the detents (5will he thus more deeply seated in the recesses 36 between thecorresponding cut-away teeth. thereby pcrmitting the trans erse hailmcmher 33 to be moved by its springs 35 to the rearward position, forclosin; the. short circuit for the register-lamp through the contactterminals 26 and 27. as shown in Figure 2. The detent-receiving notchesprovided hetwcen all the remaining number-wheel teeth 5, correspondingto the digit 1 to 9, inclusive. are of insufficient dimensions to permitthe deep seating of the detents 6, which accordingly hold the transversebail member 33 at its forward position thereby to hold the movablecontact terminal 26 out of engagement with the stationary contactterminal 27. so that the lighting circuit is thereby closed through theregisterlight 12 when any one of the number-wheels 1 stands away fromits zero indication, as is shown in Figure 1 and at the right of Figure3.

The register B, appearing at the left in Figure 3, is similarly providedwith a circuit-controlling universal bail operated by the number-wheels1", and comprising the transverse member '33", universal to all of theuumberavheels 1" and carried by rockarms 34:"; of which the upper partof one is shown in Figure 3. In the case. of the register B,'thc shortcircuit. which is provided through conductors 31 and 32 and controlledby contact-terminals 26" and 27" is shown as closed. thereby toextinguish the register-lamp 12", corresponding to the zero indicationof the register B, as shown in Figure 3. the rock-arm 34" of theuniversal member 33"heing disengaged from the movable contact-terminal26" to permit this spring-pressed contact-terminal 26" to close againstthe stationary mntact-tcrminal 27". as shown.

For printin; an appropriate sign. usually a star, when all thenumber-wheels stand at zero. there is provided. as is usual in theUnderwood type of bookkeeping machine. a star-printin; key 7. having astem 38 guided in the frame fl of thc machine. The upper part of thestar-her stem 38. at the rear thereof. is provided with a locking hip39. Referring: now to the register A and more particularly to Figure. 2it will be seen that when the universal hail-memhcr 33 is at itsrearward position. corresponding to the zero indication. the lug 39 willclear this laail-mcmhcr to provide for the peration of thc star-key 31hot when our number-whcel l is moved away from it zero indication. thenthe aboredescrihcd movement of the universal bail-member 3;;

to Its loruurrl position wil' l.)l'lll this inciner into the path of thelocking luu' 39 to lo k the star-key 37 when any iiuiiil;ca'-'rlieclstands .t\\'Zl V fl'un: .zrro. 'lherelorc. it is to he lltllt'tl thatthe universal liziil. comprisingthe transverse member iii! andl")(,'l(1tl'lll$ 34. besides controlling the ILL'iStLPllglll. 12 of theregister also controls the correspond ing star-key 37. It isto heunderstood that :i star-key similar to the star-key J is provided foreach of the registers of the machine.

In order to accentuate the visibility of the number-wheels 1, so as-torender the numerals thereon more readily readable. dark r-oloretlsubstantially non-reflecting or light- :ihsorbing filling pieces areprovided be tween the spaced peripheries of the numher-Wheels 1, atthetopthereof. opposite the sightz-openiiig or'window llrand below andforwardly from the-register-light'll In the construction shownin thedrawings. these light-absorbingfilling pieces are shown-as aplurality-of curved fingers comprising: black fingers 40 and red fingers41, all carried by, andshown'as formed in on'e piece with. a supportingplate 42 secured to a frame-part 43 of the-regisber'A. The curvedlight-absorbing fingers '40-andc4i1' are substantially flush with .the-numerah'bearing peripheries of the-number-wheels Land, by reasomoftheir dark co}or',|not'0n1y' accentuate the illuminationof'theimzmber-wheels. but also preventthe reflection o-f theilig-htofthe lamp 12 from'bright parts between the numberwheelsintb-tlie eyes'ofthe operator, and which would have actendencyto interfere with thereadingo'f the-numbers on theinumher-wheels; In tile-particularconstruction shown inithe drawings, the two redfingers 41 areemployed-.for-separatingz-or demarking the hundreds number-wheel fromthe first thousands number-wheel. -nndthe -last thousands number-wheelfrom the first millions number-wheel, hiting readily distinguishableforthis purpose fromthe remaining black fingers 40. but all of thefingers 40 and 4t perform u-similarlighbahsorbing function; Obviously.the red fingeis 41 t'utlltl -he otherwise disposed between the hlarklingers 40. to demark the numberwheels into other groups. for example.to separate derima'l number-wheels from the units .numher-whcel. 'lllc.lig htahs rhin, device. comprising lingers 40 ml 41 and theirsupporting plate 42. is similarly applied to both-of the-registels Azindill'but, for convenience-of illustration. is illustrated in thedrmvilgqs only in connectionnvith the register A. in other-wordsdt is tobe linden stood-that this light-absorbing device is-to lit applied toeach Clan) number of registers that may be employed on the machine.

or CXtiKLgtllSlllngJlll of the lamps in the lighting circuit, comprisingthe registerlamps l2 and 12" nntl Lhc duslt-liunp 1- or for includingthese lamps in the lightin; uirenit. subject to control nsnhovedescribedn ,manuallyioperzihle switch ,isproridedandthLs-circuit-controllingswitch.is

shou=n=as comprisinga movable manuallyoperable contnctunember 4' and-astationary contact-member tfioconneeted-ni the main conductor 14.Iii-for any reason .it is pair- .ticuli-irlydixirablertoieconomize.inelectrichem lamp:

In-the modified formof'the invention diir grammaticallyillustratedqin'Figure 5. three sponding l number of registers, arearranged -to .be-i included in multiple-or parallel .relatied-between!!! 'pairiofimainconductors 4:9

and 50, connected to a batteiyol as a=surce ofcurrent. In ordertoiconserve the battery 51. a normally open manuallytoperahleicircuit-controller for themain-circuit is provided-which -may heanordinary. push-button. grammatically as comprising-a-stetionaryeontactrt'erminal 52 -and a ;-movab1e-=z1utomatically-returningvcontact-terminal 53- normallymaintained at theopen position shown in the dniwings-by-m'eansof a spring 54. In the;-formof the-inventiom'ithe circuits for the register-lampstfi; 47 and .48are: normally open when the number-wheels of the corresponding registersstand-at the zero position. For-controlling their-circuits, theregister-lamp :46 is provided with :2 mo able mntaeumember '55eo-opemtive withn stationary etmtacbterniinai 56. the registerlamp 4?is-controlled by msimilar movable contact-member 57 oo oneratiye with instn tiona-ry contact-terminal 58,'and theregister-lamp 48 issimilarlyicontrollerl by a morable contact-member 59 -co-operative--witha stationary contact-terminal 60. It is to he understood thatthe movablecontact-menihers nr routuctrterminals-55,57 and 59 are allspring-pressed. so as to have a normal tendency Ur letlllItautomatically to the own-circuit posit iolriofithe movable terminals 5TandflQ-I'or-the registcr'lnmps 47 and 49. For the respective-registers.unireisul members (it. 62 and 63 are. provided-to ucontrolled by theummber wheels of tut-h register in the manner -ahoro pzu'tieuh'n-lydeserihetl in referenemtothe IItHDbQC-Wltflls I and I" in thefitskdescribed-construction. in Figure 5. the universal member 0! isshown in )OSltlOlt 'forelosing the circuit through th -re :istex=hunp 46to light this lamp. indicating that a n uinber l as been Thiseircuit'control-ler is shown dialOO llLU

run into the corresponding register, while the universal members 62 and63 for the registers corresponding to the register-lamp 47 and 48 areshown at the position for extinguishing these lamps, when all of thenumber-wheels stand at the zero indication. By reason of the fact thatthe register-lamps 46, 47 and 48 are connected to the main conductors 49and 50 in parallel relation, it will be obvious that should one of theselamps fail, the remaining lamps may be continued in use.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a computing machine, the combination with a plurality of registerseach including number-wheels, of a register-lamp for each register,means controlled byeach register for establishing a lightingcircuitthrough its lamp when any number-wheel of the register moves awayfrom zero, and means for maintainin the operativeness of the lightingcircuit for any register-lamp independently of the condition as tooperativeness lot the lighting circuit for any other register-lamp.

2'. In a computing machine the combina tion with a lurality of registerseach including numberwheels, of a register-lamp for each register, a'universal member for each register operable by the number-wheels tooccupy one position when all the numberwheels stand at zero andtoocc'upy another position when any number-wheel stands away from zero,means operable by each universal member for establishing a lightingcircuitthrough the corresponding register-lamp when any number-wheel ofthe register moves away from zero, and means for maintaining theoperativeness of the lighting circuit for any'register-lampindependently of the condition as to operativeness of the lightingcircuit or any other register-lamp.

3. In a computing machine, the combination with a plurality of registerseach including number-wheels, of a registerJamp for each register forilluminating its number-wheels, a lighting circuit'for eachregister-lamp, meansincluding a circuit-controller in control of eachsaid lighting circuit, a member universal to and operable by thenumbenwheels of each register for operating the circuit-controller forthat register to cause its lamp to be lighted whenever any one of itsnumber-wheels moves away from zero; and means for maintaining theoperativeness of the lighting circuit for any register-lampindependently of the condition as to operativeness of the lightingcircuit for any other register-lamp.

In a computing machine, the combination with a plurality of registerseach including number-wheels, of a register-lamp for each register, alighting circuit in which the register-lamps may be included in series,means including a circuit-controller operated by the turning of anynumber-wheel of a register away from, zero for includin theregister-lamp of that register in the ii iiiin circuit o light the lamp,and a resistance connected in multiple with each register-lamp formaintaining the integrity of the lighting circuit around any lamp whichmay fail, so that should the lamp for any one register failthe lamp forany other register may be continued in use. 1

In acomputing machine, the combination with'aplurahty of registers eachin cluding number-wheels, a register-lamp for each register, a lightingcircuit in which the registerdamps may be included -in series, anormally closed short circuit for each register-lamp, meansioperated bythe turning'of anynui'nberwheel in a register away from "zero" foropening the short circuit of the register lamp for that register;thereby to light the register-lampfand a resistance connected inmultiple with each registerlamp for maintaining the integrity o'fthe li'hting' circuit; a'round fan "register-lamp which ma-yffail so that' shou dthe lamp 'for anyregis ter faihthe'lamp for any other registermay'fbe continuedinfuse;

6. In a computin machina'the combination with a "plurality'fof registerseach'ineluding .num "er wli'e'els, of a re'ster-Iamp for each la er/m1 a'iiiain lamp,'. ai lighting circuit including the "main" lamp and inwhich the register-lampsinay' be included in series,".means' including acircuit-controllei operatedby the number-wheels for including th'e'rggister lamp for that registe'r-in' the lighting 'circuit,therebytolight the registbla'mfi-when any number-wheel of a register isturned away from zero, and a resistanceconnected in multiple with eachregister-lamp,'wherby should any register- ]:imp fail the resistancefor'that'lamp will provide a shunt around such lamp so that any otherregister-lamp in the series may he continued in use.

7. In a computing machine, the combination with a plurality of'registersincluding number-wheels, of a register-lamp for each register, alighting circuit including a main resistance and in which theregister-lamps may be included in series, a resistance in multiple witheach register-lamp to provide a path for lighting current around thelamp in case of failure of the latter, a normally closed short circuitfor each register-lamp and means operated by the number-wheels for anyregister for opening the short circuit. to light the registenlamp whenthe numbei u'heel of any register is turned from zero.

9. in u computing machine, the (I()llllllll'd.- tion with a plurality ofregisters each including number-Wheels of a main lamp, :1 register-lampfor each register for illumihating the number-Wheels thereof, a lightingcircuit including the main lamp and in whirh the registerdamps may beinrluded in series, a resistance connected in multiple with eachregister-lamp to provide a path for lighting currentai'ound'the' latterincase of its to and operable by the' nun'i'her wheels of each registerfor incluldiiigJthe" register lamp f'or'tliat re'giste'i irl's'erie's inthe'lighting circuit with" the main' lamp, thereby to light thercgistenlamp any numberwheel of that register is tutned awa t'mm zero.

9. In a comput'i machine, the combina tion with p plurality er eluding:number-wheels, 6f im-mechani s, a register-lamp for each rfegist erlforilhimi hating the .number fivheels a ligliting circuit including'th1mainresistance-and in which the register-am s m y be included in series,' aresistance connected witlreac'h'r gister-lanipf-tfoi provide a pathforlig hting' c'urr'ent aroiincI'the La'tter in case of its failure, anormally closed short' circuit for each l'egister la'rhp; aswitchincontrol of each short circuit apd} a, member universal to (andoperable by, the'f number u heels of cabl -fighter fastening the switchto open'the short circuit erehyito light-the registcmlamp whenever" anyoneof the number-wheels ,is moved away from zero.

10. J Ina' oompiitirigiii achine, the combination with a plurality} ofregisters each including number-Wheels, of a main lamp, a register-lampor each register for illuminatingthe numberwheels thereof, a lightingcircuit including the main lamp and in which the register-lampsmaybeinclutled in series, a circuit-controlling device for eachregister-lump operable by the number-wheels thereofi. and a, resistanceconnected iirmultL pie with each register-lamp to provide a shunt aroundthat lamp, whereby should any register-lamp {ail any other lamp in theseries may be continued in use.

11. In computingmachine, the combination with a plurality of registerseach comprising numberwrheels, of a main resistance, a register-lamp foreach register in series with the main resistance, a' short circuit foreach register-lamp, a circuit-controlling derice for each register andcontrolled thereby to control the short circuit for its registerlamp,and t1 resistauce'in multiple with each registenlainp to provide a pathfor lightmg current around that lamp whereby should anv register-lumpfail any lamp for any other register may he continued in u e lZ. ln :1rouiputiu c luucl1i!uthcroluliiuution with u plurality of registeis eachinfailure, and a member universal in multiple with thedetents,.cachnumher-wheel being move itsfdetenltiand thereby to move andhold the universal 'member against the tensidn' of its spring, are'gister l'amofor each registeria lighting ciicuitin'wh'ich theregistcnlamps may be included, means in coir trol of eajch registerlampincludingcontabc termin'als'jc'oiitrolled hy'theunit 'e rsal mernh'cr to light the register-lamp'whenevr a numtier-Wheel is moved awayfrom'zero;'an1l means for maintaining the operatireness'of the lightingcircuit' for any register-lamp 'iudep nd entl ziof the condition as'toperativeriessofthe fghtin'g' circuit of an'y'bther regism iii pi .1

13 computing machine; thecomhina tion' with a plurality of re'g'isters'eac'hl in eluding, neither-wheels, of: ajdeteiit for each riuxribergwlieel, a member vumijver's't1 t'oftlie' detents for'ea'ch'registe'r to be operated,tl1 e1eb a spring normally tendingtormov'e'tli'e universal member-"into operative relation with thedetents, each number-wheel being'aelaptedfirhen inpved aiva"'fr'oin'z'ero' to m'o're its detent and [thereby to: move and, ,holdtheuniversal" ember against thelte'nsi'onof its spring, andanelectriccircuit comprising a mainresistaaice', registerrlai'rips' forfeach register, connected inqseries with each othen and with 'fl16[mf! ln,LESlS:btl I1C8,,a normally closed short cipcuit connected. immultiple .rvitheach register-lamp, a sswit'chhin control rot each short i circiiit andLopepable the universal member to open tihe-short circuit whenever anumberozgheel .moves away ,from zero, and a resistance connected inmultiple with each resigter-lamm-whereby should any registerlamp .failthe resistance for that lamp 'will provide apatli for lighting currentthrough any other register-lump in the series.

M. In a computing.iiiaeh-iiie, the cfllllllillih tion with a registerincluding numberwheels, of a -.regi'sber-lamp for illuminatingthe'inumber wheels, a lighting-circuit for the-regietec-lamp, meanscontrolled by the number-wheels for controlling the lightingcircuit-tohprewent the lightingof the lamp when all oi -thenumber-wheels are at the zero position and to provide for t e lightingof the lamp when any number-wheel is moved away from its zero position;and a manuallypperuhle circuit-controller including an automaticallyreturning contact member also controlling: the lighting circuit andnormally preventin; the lighting of the ItJ1lStQIlkll]) whcrchv thecondition of the register max he at any time determined h ope-rating themauuullr-uperuhle rlrruitwoulroller.

15. In a computing machine, the combination with a plurality ofregisters each including number-wheels, of a register-lamp for eachregister, means for establishing a lighting circuit for each lamp, meansfor each register in control of the lighting circuit of itsregister-lamp to prevent or permit the lighting of the lamp dependingupon the position of the number-wheels and adapted to prevent thelighting of the lamp when all of the number-wheels are at zero and topermit the lighting of the lamp when any number-wheel is moved away fromzero, and a manually-operable circuit-controller including anautomatically-returning contact-member for maintaining a normally opencircuit in control of the lighting circuits for all of theregister-lamps, whereby the condition of any register may be 'observedat any time by operating the manually-operable circuit-controller.

16. In a computing machine, the combination with a plurality ofregisters each including number-wheels, of a register-lamp for eachregister, said lamps being connected in series, means controlled by eachregister for establishing a lighting circuit through its lamp when anynumber-wheel of the register moves away from zero, and means formaintaining the operativeness of the lighting circuit for anyregister-lamp independently of the condition as to operativeness of thelighting circuit for any other register-lamp.

17. In a computing machine, the combination with a register including aplurality of coaxially-arranged and peripherally-spaced number wheels,of dark substantially nonlight-refiecting filling pieces occupyingsuccessive spaces between the number-wheels for accentuating thevisibility of the numerals on the number-wheels.

18. In a computing machine, the combination with a register having aframe part and including a plurality of coaxially-arranged andperipherally-spaced numberwhecls. of a supporting plate fixed on theframe part, and dark curved light-absorbing lingers formed in one piecewith and extending from said plate into successive spaces between thespaced peripheries of the number-wheels substantially flush therewithfor accent-uating the visibility of the numerals on the number-wheels,

19. In a computing machine. the combination with a register including aplurality of coaxiallyarranged and peripherally-spaced number-wheels, ofa plurality of differently colored comparatively dark stationarylight-absorbing-filling pieces arranged successively between theperipheries of the number-wheels substantially-flush therewith adjacentto the upper sides there of. some of the filling pieces being of a colordistinctively different from the others for demarking the number-wheelsinto groups.

20. In a computing machine, the combination with a register having aframe part and including a plurality of coaXially-arranged andperipherally-spaced number-wheels, of a light-absorbing device for thenumberwheels comprising a supporting plate secured to the frame part,and dark substantially non-light-refiecting curved fingers formed in onepiece with the supporting plate and extending therefrom into successivespaces between the peripheries of the number-wheels substantially flushtherewith adjacent the upper sides thereof for rendering the numerals onthe number-wheels more easily readable.

21. In a computing.n1aehine, the combination with a register including aplurality of coaxially-arranged and peripherallyspaced number-wheels,and a casing having a sight-opening above the wheels and slightlyforward of the vertical plane through the axis of the number-wheels, ofa register-lamp for the register positioned in the casing just to therear of the sight-opening to illuminate the upper sides of the numberwheels and dark substantially non-light-reflecting filling piecesarranged successively between the peripheries of the number-wheelsadjacent to the upper sides thereof and below the register-lamp foraccentuating the illumination of the peripheries of the numberwheels bythe register-lamp, said filling pieces extending across the field ofsight through said sight-opening.

22. In a computing machine, the combination with a register, having aframe part and a plurality of coaXially-arranged and peripherally-spacednumber-wheels, and a casing having a sight-opening above, the wheels andslightly forward of the vertical plane through the axis of thenumberwheels, of a registerdight in the casing just to the rear of thesight-opening, for illuminating the upper sides of the peripheries ofthe number-wheels, and :1 light-absorbing device comprising a supportingplate secured to the frame part, and a plurality of dark substantiallynon-light-refleeting curved fingers formed in one piece with andextending from said plate between the peripheries of successivelyadjacent nuinber-wheels adjacent to the tops thereof and substantiallyflush therewith for accentuating the illumination of the number-wheelsby the register-light, some of the fingers being of a colordistinctively different from the others for thereby demarking thenumber-wheels into groups.

ALFRED E. OSWA Ll).

Witnesses:

CATHERINE A. NEWELL, JENNIE P. THORNE,

